PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 4,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2 times the upper limit of normal SGOT/SGPT less than 2 times the upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant Adequate method of contraception required of all fertile patients Female fertile patients must have normal serum beta HCG Not eligible for standard therapy and/or other protocol therapy No hypersensitivity to DHE or other porphyrins Not concurrent photosensitizing drugs such as: Tetracycline Doxorubicin No contraindications to general anesthesia, including EKG abnormalities suggestive of acute ischemia